Plasma air dust collector

ABSTRACT

In a plasma air dust collector, the plasma air dust collector includes a first electrode fixing unit and a second electrode fixing unit respectively having a power terminal; at least two dust collecting electrodes; a discharge electrode arranged between the dust collecting electrodes; a terminal protrusion formed at the bottom end of each dust collecting electrode in the length direction; a terminal protrusion insertion hole formed at a side of the first electrode fixing unit; a combining protrusion formed at a side of the first electrode fixing unit and the second electrode fixing unit; and a combining groove formed at the both ends of each dust collecting electrode.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a plasma air dust collector, and inparticular to a plasma air dust collector installed inside an airconditioner to purify indoor air by collecting dust in air sucked intothe air conditioner.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, an air conditioner is divided into an indoor unit and anoutdoor unit, the indoor unit is installed indoors, the outdoor unit isinstalled outdoors, and the indoor unit and the outdoor unit areconnected with each other through pipes and wiring.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating an indoor unit of ageneral panel type air conditioner.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the indoor unit of the general panel type airconditioner includes a casing 3 having a suction hole 1 at the top and adischarge hole 2 at the bottom; a heat exchanger 4 installed in thecasing 3; a fan 5 installed at the rear of the heat exchanger 4; and aplasma air dust collector 10 installed at the front of the heatexchanger 4.

In the indoor unit of the general panel type air conditioner, warm airin a room is sucked into the casing 3 through the suction hole 1 by theoperation of the fan 5, the sucked warm air is heat-exchanged into coolair and is discharged to the outside of the casing 3.

Herein, before the sucked warm air reaches to the heat exchanger 4, theair dust collector 10 purifies air by collecting dust in the sucked warmair in order to provide fresh air into the room.

FIG. 2 is an exploded-perspective view illustrating the conventionalplasma air dust collector, and FIG. 3 is a combined-perspective viewillustrating the conventional plasma air dust collector.

As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conventional air dust collector 10includes a front casing 12 having plural paths 11 for passing air; arear casing 14 having a certain internal space by being combined withthe front casing 11 and having plural paths 13; each discharge electrode15 arranged in the rear casing 14 in the length direction at regularintervals to generate discharge when a high voltage is applied; and eachdust collecting electrode 16 arranged between the discharge electrodes15 to collect dust when a high voltage is applied.

The operation of the conventional plasma air dust collector will bedescribed.

As depicted in FIG. 5, when a high voltage is applied to the dischargeelectrode 15 and the dust collecting electrode 16, discharge plasmaoccurs between the discharge electrode 15 and the dust collectingelectrode 16, dust particles passing between the dust collectingelectrodes 16 are electrified by storing electric field and dischargeplasma, and the electrified dust particles are collected on the dustcollecting electrode 16 by the Coulomb's law.

However, in the compact structure or high performance aspect, theconventional plasma air dust collector has following problems.

First, because the discharge electrode 15 and the dust collectingelectrode 16 are installed in the front and rear casings 12, 14, it isdifficult to achieve a compact body.

Second, because the dust collecting electrode 16 is formed as a plateshape and dust collecting is performed on only the internal surfacethereof, dust collecting efficiency can not be improved.

TECHNICAL GIST OF THE PESENT INVENTION

In order to solve the above-described problems, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a compact plasma air dust collector byreducing a total volume.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a plasma airdust collector capable of improving dust collecting efficiency byincreasing a dust collecting surface of a dust collecting electrode.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a plasma air dustcollector in accordance with the present invention includes a firstelectrode fixing unit having a dust collecting electrode power terminal;a second electrode fixing unit arranged with a certain distance from thefirst electrode fixing unit to have a discharge electrode powerterminal; at least two dust collecting electrodes as electric conductorsinstalled between the first electrode fixing unit and the secondelectrode fixing unit in the length direction and connected to the dustcollecting electrode power terminal in order to form an internal surfaceand a side surface thereof as dust collecting surfaces; and a dischargeelectrode as an electric conductor arranged between the dust collectingelectrodes in the length direction and connected to the dischargeelectrode power terminal in order to apply a high voltage.

Each dust collecting electrode is connected to the first electrodefixing unit and the second electrode fixing unit as one body ordetachably.

It is preferable for each dust collecting electrode to be formed as abar shape having a rectangular section or a bar shape having a H-shapedsection or a multiple shape having many sides.

Each dust collecting electrode is constructed with a body as aninsulator and a conductive nickel gold-plate film covering the body.

In addition, a plasma air dust collector in accordance with the presentinvention includes a first electrode fixing unit having a dustcollecting electrode power terminal; a second electrode fixing unitarranged with a certain distance from the first electrode fixing unit tohave a discharge electrode power terminal; at least two dust collectingelectrodes as electric conductors installed between the first electrodefixing unit and the second electrode fixing unit in the length directionand connected to the dust collecting electrode power terminal in orderto form an internal surface and a side surface thereof as dustcollecting surfaces; a discharge electrode as an electric conductorarranged between the dust collecting electrodes in the length directionand connected to the discharge electrode power terminal to apply a highvoltage; and a dust collecting electrode combining means for combiningthe both ends of each dust collecting electrode respectively with thefirst electrode fixing unit and the second electrode fixing unitdetachably.

The dust collecting electrode combining means includes a terminalprotrusion formed at the bottom end of each dust collecting electrode inthe length direction so as to be connected to the dust collectingelectrode power terminal; a terminal protrusion insertion hole formed ata side of the first electrode fixing unit and the second electrodefixing unit so as to receive the terminal protrusion; a combiningprotrusion formed at a side of the first electrode fixing unit and thesecond electrode fixing unit; and a combining groove formed at the bothends of each dust collecting electrode so as to receive the combiningprotrusion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating an indoor unit of ageneral panel type air conditioner;

FIG. 2 is an exploded-perspective view illustrating the conventionalplasma air dust collector;

FIG. 3 is a combined-perspective view illustrating the conventionalplasma air dust collector;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates discharge in the conventional plasma air dustcollector;

FIG. 6 is an exploded-perspective view illustrating a plasma air dustcollector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a combined-perspective view illustrating the plasma air dustcollector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line B-B in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line C-C in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal-sectional view illustrating another embodimentof a discharge electrode in the plasma air dust collector in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an exploded-perspective view illustrating a major part inFIG. 6;

FIG. 12 illustrates discharge in the plasma air dust collector inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates simulation of electric force lines distribution ofthe conventional plasma air dust collector; and

FIG. 14 illustrates simulation of electric force lines distribution ofthe plasma air dust collector in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 6 is an exploded-perspective view illustrating a plasma air dustcollector in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 7 is acombined-perspective view illustrating the plasma air dust collector inaccordance with the present invention; FIG. 8 is a sectional view takenalong a line B-B in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along aline C-C in FIG. 7; FIG. 10 is a longitudinal-sectional viewillustrating another embodiment of a discharge electrode in the plasmaair dust collector in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 11is an exploded-perspective view illustrating a major part in FIG. 6.

As depicted in FIGS. 6˜11, the plasma air dust collector 100 inaccordance with the present invention includes a first electrode fixingunit 110 having a dust collecting electrode power terminal 111; a secondelectrode fixing unit 120 arranged with a certain distance from thefirst electrode fixing unit 110 to have a discharge electrode powerterminal 121; at least two dust collecting electrodes 130 as electricconductors installed between the first electrode fixing unit 110 and thesecond electrode fixing unit 120 in the length direction and connectedto the dust collecting electrode power terminal 111 in order to form aninternal surface 130 a and a side surface 130 b thereof as dustcollecting surfaces; a discharge electrode 140 an electric conductorarranged between the dust collecting electrodes 130 in the lengthdirection and connected to the discharge electrode power terminal 121 inorder to apply a high voltage; and a dust collecting electrode combiningmeans 150 for combining the both ends of each dust collecting electrode130 respectively with the first electrode fixing unit 110 and the secondelectrode fixing unit 120 detachably.

The first electrode fixing unit 110 and the second electrode fixing unit120 are respectively placed at the both sides of the plasma dustcollector 100, and the first electrode fixing unit 110 and the secondelectrode fixing unit 120 are generally constructed as insulators.

The dust collecting electrode power terminal 111 is installed on thefirst electrode fixing unit 110, and the discharge electrode powerterminal 121 is installed on the second electrode fixing unit 120.

The plasma air dust collector 100 is constructed so as to apply a highvoltage to the dust collecting electrode power terminal 111 and thedischarge electrode power terminal 121.

Each cover 112, 122 can be combined with the front surface (or the topsurface) of the first electrode fixing unit 110 and the second electrodefixing unit 120. For that, a combining hook 114 can be formed at a sideof the first electrode fixing unit 110, and a combining groove 114 canbe formed at a side of the cover 112 so as to be corresponded to thecombining hook 114. In addition, a combining hook 124 can be formed at aside of the second electrode fixing unit 120, and a combining groove 124can be formed at a side of the cover 122 so as to be corresponded to thecombining hook 124.

At least two dust collecting electrodes 130 are installed in the lengthdirection between the first electrode fixing unit 110 and the secondelectrode fixing unit 120, the both ends of each dust collectingelectrode 130 are respectively fixed to the first electrode fixing unit110 and the second electrode fixing unit 120, and at the same time theboth ends of each dust collecting electrode 130 are respectivelycontacted to the discharge electrode power terminal 121 and the dustcollecting power terminal 111 by the dust collecting electrode combiningmeans 150.

Each dust collecting electrode 130 is constructed with a body 131 as aninsulator and a conductive nickel gold-plate film 132 covering the body.

Herein, the dust collecting electrode 130 can be formed as variousshapes so as to have a dust collecting surface not only the internalsurface 130 a but also the both surfaces 130 b.

For example, each dust collecting electrode 130 can be formed as a barshape having a quadrangular section as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9 or itcan be formed as a bar shape having a H-section as depicted in FIG. 10.

In case of the dust collecting electrode 230 having the H-section,because twisting phenomenon frequently occurable in a mold process and acatapulting process performed in fabrication of the dust collectingelectrode can be efficiently prevented, it can facilitate fabricationprocesses and form a wider dust collecting area, and accordingly dustcollecting efficiency can be improved.

In the plasma air dust collector 100 in accordance with the presentinvention, a structure of the dust collecting electrode 130 is not onlyfor changing a shape but also for improving dust collecting efficiencyremarkably.

In other words, in the conventional plasma air dust collector shown inFIG. 5, because the dust collecting electrode 16 is formed as a plateshape, a dust collecting surface is formed on only the internal surface16 a of the dust collecting electrode 16. However, in the plasma airdust collector 100 in accordance with the present invention, because adust collecting is formed on not only the internal surface 130 a opposedto the discharge electrode 140 but also the side surface 130 b, the dustcollecting surface is widen, and accordingly dust collecting efficiencycan be improved.

The discharge electrode 140 of the metal wire is supported by supportingportions 113 formed at the top surface of the first electrode fixingunit 110 and supporting portions 123 formed at the top surface of thesecond electrode fixing unit 120, and it is arranged in the lengthdirection between the dust collecting electrodes 130.

Whenever a high voltage is applied, the end of the discharge electrode140 is connected to the power terminal 111 of the dust collectingelectrode 130, and the other end is connected to the power terminal 121of the discharge electrode 140.

Each dust collecting electrode 130 can be connected to the firstelectrode fixing unit 110 and the second electrode fixing unit 120 asone body, however, it is more preferable to combine it detachably.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 11, a construction of a dustcollecting electrode combining means 150 for combining the end of thedust collecting electrode 130 with the first electrode fixing unit 110detachably will be described.

In description of the dust collecting electrode combining means 150,because the first electrode fixing unit 110, the second electrode fixingunit 120 and the both ends of the dust collecting electrode 130respectively combined thereto have the same shape, hereinafter, thefirst electrode fixing unit 110 and the end of the dust collectingelectrode 130 combined with the first electrode fixing unit 110 will bedescribed as an example.

The dust collecting combining means 150 is constructed with a terminalprotrusion 151 formed at the bottom end of each dust collectingelectrode 130 in the length direction so as to be connected to the dustcollecting electrode power terminal 111; a terminal protrusion insertionhole 152 formed at a side of the first electrode fixing unit 110 so asto receive the terminal protrusion 151; a combining protrusion 153formed at a side of the first electrode fixing unit 110; and a combininggroove 154 formed at the both ends of each dust collecting electrode 130so as to receive the combining protrusion 153.

Hereinafter, the operation of the plasma air dust collector inaccordance with the present invention will be described with referenceto accompanying FIG. 12.

When a high voltage is applied to each dust collecting electrode 130 andeach discharge electrode 140 through the dust collecting power terminal111 and the discharge electrode power terminal 121, discharge plasmaoccurs between each discharge electrode 140 and each dust collectingelectrode 130. Herein, dust particles passing through between the dustcollecting electrodes 130 are electrified by strong electric filed anddischarge plasma, the electrified dust particles are collected on eachdust collecting electrode 130 by the Coulomb's law.

Herein, because each dust collecting electrode 130 is formed as a barshape having a rectangular section, a dust collecting surface is formedon not only the internal surface 130 a opposed to the dischargeelectrode 140 but also the side surface 130 b, and accordingly dustcollecting efficiency can be improved.

FIG. 13 illustrates simulation of electric force lines distribution ofthe conventional plasma air dust collector, and FIG. 14 illustratessimulation of electric force lines distribution of the plasma air dustcollector in accordance with the present invention.

First, as depicted in FIG. 13, in the conventional plasma air dustcollector, an electric field line mainly exists on the internal surface16 a of the dust collecting electrode 16 corresponded to the dischargeelectrode 15, a dust collecting surface is small, and accordingly dustcollecting efficiency can not be improved.

On the other hand, as depicted in FIG. 14, in the plasma air dustcollector in accordance with the present invention, an electric fieldline exists on not only the internal surface 130 a of the dustcollecting electrode 130 but also the side surface 130 b, a dustcollecting surface can be increased, and accordingly dust collectingefficiency can be improved.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, in the plasma air dust collector in accordance withthe present invention, by eliminating a front casing and a rear casingfor covering a discharge electrode and a dust collecting electrode, itis possible to implement a compact structure. In addition, by increasinga dust collecting surface of the dust collecting electrode, dustcollecting efficiency can be improved.

1. A plasma air dust collector, comprising: a first electrode fixingunit having a dust collecting electrode power terminal; a secondelectrode fixing unit arranged with a certain distance from the firstelectrode fixing unit to have a discharge electrode power terminal; atleast two dust collecting electrodes as electric conductors installedbetween the first electrode fixing unit and the second electrode fixingunit in the length direction and connected to the dust collectingelectrode power terminal in order to form an internal surface and a sidesurface thereof as dust collecting surfaces; and a discharge electrodeas an electric conductor arranged between the dust collecting electrodesin the length direction and connected to the discharge electrode powerterminal in order to apply a high voltage.
 2. The plasma air dustcollector of claim 1, wherein the first electrode fixing unit and thesecond electrode fixing unit are insulators.
 3. The plasma air dustcollector of claim 1, wherein each dust collecting electrode isconnected to the first electrode fixing unit and the second electrodefixing unit as one body.
 4. The plasma air dust collector of claim 3,wherein each dust collecting electrode is constructed with a body as aninsulator and a conductive nickel gold-plate film covering the body. 5.The plasma air dust collector of claim 1, wherein each dust collectingelectrode is formed as a bar shape having a rectangular section.
 6. Theplasma air dust collector of claim 1, wherein each dust collectingelectrode is formed as a bar shape having a h-shaped section.
 7. Theplasma air dust collector of claim 1, wherein each dust collectingelectrode is constructed with a body as an insulator and a conductivenickel gold-plate film covering the body.
 8. A plasma air dustcollector, comprising: a first electrode fixing unit having a dustcollecting electrode power terminal; a second electrode fixing unitarranged with a certain distance from the first electrode fixing unit tohave a discharge electrode power terminal; at least two dust collectingelectrodes as electric conductors installed between the first electrodefixing unit and the second electrode fixing unit in the length directionand connected to the dust collecting electrode power terminal in orderto form an internal surface and a side surface thereof as dustcollecting surfaces; a discharge electrode as an electric conductorarranged between the dust collecting electrodes in the length directionand connected to the discharge electrode power terminal to apply a highvoltage; and a dust collecting electrode combining means for combiningthe both ends of each dust collecting electrode respectively with thefirst electrode fixing unit and the second electrode fixing unitdetachably.
 9. The plasma air dust collector of claim 8, wherein eachdust collecting electrode is connected to the first electrode fixingunit and the second electrode fixing unit as one body.
 10. The plasmaair dust collector of claim 8, wherein each dust collecting electrode isconstructed with a body as an insulator and a conductive nickelgold-plate film covering the body.
 11. The plasma air dust collector ofclaim 8, wherein each dust collecting electrode is formed as a bar shapehaving a rectangular section.
 12. The plasma air dust collector of claim8, wherein each dust collecting electrode is formed as a bar shapehaving a h-shaped section.
 13. The plasma air dust collector of claim 8,wherein each dust collecting electrode is constructed with a body as aninsulator and a conductive nickel gold-plate film covering the body. 14.The plasma air dust collector of claim 8, wherein dust collectingelectrode combining means includes: a terminal protrusion formed at thebottom end of each dust collecting electrode in the length direction soas to be connected to the dust collecting electrode power terminal; aterminal protrusion insertion hole formed at a side of the firstelectrode fixing unit so as to receive the terminal protrusion; acombining protrusion formed at a side of the first electrode fixingunit; and a combining groove formed at the both ends of each dustcollecting electrode so as to receive the combining protrusion.